Daniel Fells, who started and played nearly every down at tight end for the Broncos in 2011, will visit the New England Patriots on Monday.

The Broncos want Fells back but it appears the wait for Peyton Manning is affecting the way the team can conduct business. Two other players the Broncos want back — defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley and middle linebacker Joe Mays — have visits with the New Orleans Saints today.

The Pats’ interest in Fells is a bit surprising considering they already have two of the best in Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. By season’s end, though, the Pats were seemingly playing Hernandez in nearly every skill position but tight end.

Fells is a solid two-way tight end who is both a strong blocker and receiver. He made a couple of terrific catches late in games last season that were part of Tim Tebow’s magical comebacks.

Because of a new rule that says teams can delay releasing their injury report until their opponent located in a different time zone finishes its own practice, the Broncos’ Friday injury report was released around 10:15 p.m.

Oakland has been holding its practices at night all week in preparation for Monday’s 8:15 p.m. kickoff time.

The Broncos aren’t in full pads for practice Monday, the first practice in the final week of preseason.

Even so, several veterans are being held out with injuries, including starting right guard Chris Kuper and starting defensive tackles Kevin Vickerson and Brodrick Bunkley, and weakside linebacker D.J. Williams.

First, the Broncos lose starters Ty Warren (partially torn triceps) and Marcus Thomas (partially torn pectoral). Warren is out for most of the season and Thomas may miss a game or two of the regular season.

The new starting defensive tackles became Brodrick Bunkley and Kevin Vickerson. Bunkley suffered a knee injury Saturday against Buffalo and Vickerson was limping around Monday with a heavily bandaged left ankle.

Wide receiver Eddie Royal, linebacker D.J. Williams and defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley — all starters — were among the group of players who returned to practice Monday afternoon after missing at least one practice or a game because of injury.

This may require a hold or two of the Broncos’ collective breath, but Brodrick Bunkley should be a defensive tackle upgrade. Bunkley, 27, has been acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for an undisclosed 2013 draft pick.

Providing Bunkley shows up. Bunkley was officially traded over the weekend to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2012 draft. Bunkley was supposed to show up at the Browns’ camp today. He didn’t. He is now on his way to Denver. Presumably.

Nicki Jhabvala is a Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post. She was previously the digital news editor for sports. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor. She also spent two years as a home page editor at the New York Times.